Shape of Things to Come (song)
Encyclopedia
"Shape of Things to Come" is a song written by Barry Mann
and Cynthia Weil
from the film Wild in the Streets
, performed by the fictional band Max Frost and the Troopers
on their 1968 album Shape of Things to Come. The song was also released without vocals
by Davie Allan and the Arrows. The song was a mere 1 minute 55 seconds in length.
Others who have performed the song include Slade
, Rich Kids, Vacuum
, Aorta
, Third Rail, Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Pointed Sticks, The Ramones, the Fuzztones
, The Urinals, The Diodes
, Mod Fun
and Marshmallow Overcoat. More recently, the song has been released by Thee Dirtybeats, Toxic Reasons and Janelle Monáe.
for the exploitation film
Wild in the Streets
, where it was lip-synced by Christopher Jones
. A young Richard Pryor
portrayed the drummer in Jones' band.
The song was also used as theme song for a 70's Mexican Comedy show called Ensalada de Locos (madmen salad) which featured Manuel "Loco" Valdez, Hector Lechuga and Alejandro Suarez.
The song originally appeared as the first track on the A side of the Shape of Things to Come LP
.
It was subsequently released as a single on Tower 419; it was backed by "Free Lovin'" (written by Guy Hemric and Paul Wibier). The single peaked at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100
during the week of October 26, 1968, and peaked at #2 on
the Canadian charts for two consecutive weeks during the second and third week of October, 1968. The song remained on the US Billboard charts for total of 9 weeks.
.
Barry Mann
Barry Mann is an American songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil.-Career:...
and Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
from the film Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets is a 1968 film featuring Christopher Jones, Hal Holbrook, and Shelley Winters. It was produced by American International Pictures and based on a short story by writer Robert Thom...
, performed by the fictional band Max Frost and the Troopers
Max Frost and the Troopers
Max Frost and The Troopers was a fictional rock music group created for the exploitation film Wild in the Streets, released in 1968. The film featured Christopher Jones as the highly influential singer Max Frost. The songs performed by Frost and his band, a group that was never formally named in...
on their 1968 album Shape of Things to Come. The song was also released without vocals
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
by Davie Allan and the Arrows. The song was a mere 1 minute 55 seconds in length.
Others who have performed the song include Slade
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
, Rich Kids, Vacuum
Vacuum (band)
Vacuum is the name of a Swedish pop band. The members are Mattias Lindblom and Anders Wollbeck. They also work as song writers and producers under the same name. As songwriters and producers Wollbeck/Lindblom have worked with artists such as Tarja Turunen, Garou, Monrose, Keisha Buchanan, f and The...
, Aorta
Aorta (band)
Aorta were an American psychedelic rock band from Chicago who recorded two albums in the late 1960s and early 1970s.-History:The band developed from a soul, pop and rock'n'roll group who had originally formed in Rockford, Illinois in 1962 as Kal David and the Exceptions. Its members were Kal David...
, Third Rail, Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Pointed Sticks, The Ramones, the Fuzztones
The Fuzztones
The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi...
, The Urinals, The Diodes
The Diodes
The Diodes are a Canadian punk/new wave band formed in 1976. They released five albums: Diodes , Released , Action-Reaction , Survivors , and Time/Damage Live 1978...
, Mod Fun
Mod Fun
Mod Fun are an American power pop/garage punk band from the New York City area. Mod Fun were originally active in the early to mid 1980s, and played an integral part in New York City's burgeoning garage rock revival scene of the time. By mid 1986 they were widely regarded as one the best known...
and Marshmallow Overcoat. More recently, the song has been released by Thee Dirtybeats, Toxic Reasons and Janelle Monáe.
Success
The song was produced by Mike CurbMike Curb
Michael Curb is an American musician, record company executive, NASCAR and IRL race car owner. A Republican, he served as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of California from 1979-1983 under Democratic Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr...
for the exploitation film
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets is a 1968 film featuring Christopher Jones, Hal Holbrook, and Shelley Winters. It was produced by American International Pictures and based on a short story by writer Robert Thom...
, where it was lip-synced by Christopher Jones
Christopher Jones (actor)
William "Billy" Frank Jones, better known as Christopher Jones, is an American character actor, born August 18, 1941 in Jackson, Tennessee....
. A young Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets...
portrayed the drummer in Jones' band.
The song was also used as theme song for a 70's Mexican Comedy show called Ensalada de Locos (madmen salad) which featured Manuel "Loco" Valdez, Hector Lechuga and Alejandro Suarez.
The song originally appeared as the first track on the A side of the Shape of Things to Come LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
.
It was subsequently released as a single on Tower 419; it was backed by "Free Lovin'" (written by Guy Hemric and Paul Wibier). The single peaked at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
during the week of October 26, 1968, and peaked at #2 on
the Canadian charts for two consecutive weeks during the second and third week of October, 1968. The song remained on the US Billboard charts for total of 9 weeks.
In popular culture
In 2006, the Max Frost & The Troopers version of the song was used in an advertising campaign by Target StoresTarget Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
.